BALLERINA Evangeline Beal-Attwood has pirouetted one step closer to her goal of becoming a principal dancer in Europe, after she was offered a scholarship to attend the Royal Danish Ballet Summer School.
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Evangeline, 15, competed at the Alana Haines Australasian (AHA) Awards held at The Opera House in Wellington over the Easter long weekend.
The top 50, who made it to the quarter finals, were asked to list the three schools where they would most like to receive a scholarship.
"I was so surprised and so excited - it was a dream come true," Evangeline said of being chosen as a scholarship recipient. Her flights are also covered.
"I didn't expect it at all and I'm very proud of myself and overwhelmed, to be honest.
"It means a lot to me and is going to be such an amazing experience."
Evangeline's trip to New Zealand was her first time out of the country and she now faces the possibility of moving overseas on her own.
"We're researching whether they offer boarding, because if they do it will be a good opportunity to learn how to live by myself, if I get into a professional school," she said.
The Royal Ballet School in London is her aim.
"This is my dream career, it's what I want to do and so I'm doing anything I can to get there.
"If they don't [offer boarding], one of my parents will come with me."
The summer school is a training program from July 14 to August 3 that includes class repertoire and classical and contemporary classes and prepares participants for a professional school.
Evangeline was one of 450 who competed in the AHA Awards' Supreme B category, for students aged 15 to 18.
She participated in an open class on stage and performed her set variation, Esmeralda, and her own contemporary piece choreographed by one of her teachers.
She made it to the semi finals, or the top 22.
Evangeline started classical ballet aged two and joined the National College of Dance in Lambton aged five.
She attended three days a week last year and is now attending full time, equivalent to 40 hours each week.
She sleeps at least eight hours each night, eats healthily and sometimes dances on weekends too.
"When I dance it makes me feel happy," she said. "I just enjoy it and perform."
Evangeline encouraged other aspiring dancers to "stay positive and focus on yourself".
"Don't compete with others, try not to worry about anyone else," she said.
"That can stop you when you try and compete with other people, it brings your self esteem down.
"Focus on your journey and keep yourself going."
Evangeline was one of 13 National College of Dance students who competed at the AHA Awards.
College artistic director Brett Morgan said it was the school's largest group of students to compete at the awards.
"Evangeline has been working towards this competition for over six months, learning her set variation Esmeralda and own select contemporary with her teachers" he said.
"Then they polish every step from her head to her toes over and over.
"The art of ballet is not easy by any means, but her dedication and talent has seen her rewarded with this amazing opportunity.
"At just 15 she has such a bright future ahead of her and we couldn't be prouder of her."
Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
